Folding frame



H. MINTZ.

FOLDING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1920.

1,385,02 1 Patented July 19, 1921.

38 I77 14922207 Egy- 6.

Fri c.

HARRY MIN'IZ, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING FRAME.

Application filed. June 3, 1920.

mit of folding such frame into a compact bundle for transportation orstorage without necessitating the removal of screws or' bolts, and whichat the same time affords a rigid and substantial support-when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a support whichshall be of simple and cheap construction and which requires the-minimumof effort to set up or knock down.

In accordance with the present invention the above desirable featuresmay be fully realized, one arrangement of parts for attaining theobjects hereinbefore referred to being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the frame in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the frame in collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation showing the upper portion of the frameto enlarged scale, and illustrating a bracket for connecting certain ofthe frame members;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing details of a self-locking foldingbrace employed for securing the frame parts in extended position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a transversely extendingsupporting bar which preferably comprises an open ended metal tube,although it is to be understood that any equivalent material or shapemight be substituted therefor. Associated with said supporting bar 1 arepairs of legs 2, 3; 4t, 5,

respectively, said legs as herein shown being of tubular formation andhaving their upper extremities flattened to facilitate connection to thebar 1. These legs may, if desired, be ma-Ole of ordinary piping,although Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented July 19, 1621. Serial No. 386,333.

if more convenient wooden bars might be employed. 6 is a bracket, ofwhich one is fixedly secured to each extremity of the bar 1, saidbracket comprising a central portion 7 herein shown as substantiallyflat and which lies in engagement with the surface of the bar 1. Passingthrough the portion 7 of the bracket and through the bar 1 are suitablesecuring means such, for example, as rivets 8, 9, although anyequivalent means may be utilized for this purpose.

As herein shown, the rivet 9 extends above the upper surface of the bar1, where it is provided with a lug or button 10 by means of which acanopy may, if desired, be positioned upon the top of the bar 1. Thebracket 6 is herein shown as of sheet metal construction, although it isevident that other modes of forming this bracket may be employed ifdesired.

Extending downwardly from the lateral edges of the central part 7 of thebracket are ears 11, 12, which diverge from each other makingsubstantially equal angles with the surface of the central portion 7 ofthe bracket. 18 is a flap up-turned from the free edge of the centralportion 7 of the bracket, said flap being designed to cover the open endof the tubular supporting bar 1 when the bracket is in position thereon,thus serving to exclude moisture and dirt from the interior of the bar 1whereby rapid corrosion of the same is obviated.

Fixedly secured within suitable openings in the ears 11-12,respectively, is a pin 14: herein shown as a rivet, headed over upon theoutside surfaces of the respective ears. As clearly shown in F 3,.theupper ends of the legs may be flattened to form portions 15, 16, saidportions lying closely against the inner surfaces of the ears 11, 12,respectively, and being pivoted to swing upon the pin 14. Between theadjacent surfaces of the portions 15 and 16 of the legs is placed aspacer member 17 which preferably takes the form of a sleeve mountedupon the pin 14 and provided at its ends with beveled surfaces 18, 19,which bear against the adjacent faces ofthe parts 15, 16. The angle ofthe beveled portions 18, 19 of sleeve 17 is such that at their points ofcontact with the parts 15, 16, they are substantially parallel thereto.

20 is one of a set of folding braces, one of said braces beingassociated with each of the several legs, said braces being pivotallyat? nected to the respective legs.

Figs. and 6 the braces 20 and 28, which.

ing no detachable parts, Whichmay become lost or mislaid duringtransportation.

are in general, of like construction, each comprises parts 2 1, 25pivoted as at 26 at their meeting extremities whereby they are permittedto fold one upon the other.

These braces are of a self-locking construction such that whenstraightened: out

and in operative position they are not readily collapsed and can only becollapsed in one direction. For securing this result the brace member 25may be provided with a slot 27 extending downwardly from its upper edgeand the brace member 24 may have at its extremity a tongue 28'bent atright-angles tothe main part thereof, said tongue 28 being ofsubstantially the same depth as the notch 27 and arranged to seattherein. Se-

cured at suitable points in the bar 1 are staples or eye-bolts 29through which may be passed hook members such as 30 by means i of whicha hammock or other device may be readily swung from the supporting bar1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device is in its position of use and is adaptedto have'a hammock swung from the bar 1, the several parts of the framebeing held in rigid'relation by 7 means of the braces 20, 23, and'thebrackets 6. When it is desired to collapse the frame for transportationor storage, it is only necessary to break the joints in thebraces 20, 23and to swing the legs about the pivot pins 14, the legs swingingseverally in planes parallel totheir adjacent supporting bracket ears,until the legs are brought in position to lie in a plane substantiallyparallel with 'the bar 1, as indicated in Fig. 2, In this position theframe takes the form of a com pact bundlehaving no upstanding parts ,tointerfere with its ready transportation,

while at the same time it is capable of being expanded and set up in'position for use with the minimum of time and effort, requiring the useof no tools for this purpose and hav- Having thus described thepreferred form of the invention, what I claim is:

1; A folding frame comprising in combination a transversely extendinghammock support, a-br'acketfixedly secured to said support andhaving anangularly disposed ear, aleg member permanently and pivotally secured tosaid ear and constructed and arranged to swing in a plane substantiallyparallel to the axis of the support jand 'a fold'able' brace'havingitsopposite extremi ties pivotally secured to said support and leg,respectively.

2. A frame of the class described, having in combination a hammocksupporting bar, a bracket fixedly secured to said bar, said brackethaving angularly disposed ears, a leg pivotally secured to each of saidears, and swingable in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of thebar and collapsible braces'each of which has its opposite extremitiespermanently'secured to the bar and to a leg, respectively.

3. In combination with a hammock supporting frame member, a brackethaving a central portion, laterally and downwardly inclinedsubstantially flat ears extending from said central portion, a memberprojecting at substantially right angles to said central portion, and aleg pivotally secured to each of said ears to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto.

4. In a folding frame, in combination a bracket having acentralportion'and laterally extending ears inclined relatively to said centralportion,a pivot member extending between said ears and substantiallyparallel to said central portion of the bracket, frame membersswinginglymounted upon said pivot'member to turn in planes substantiallyparallel to the respective ears and means for holding said frame memberssubstantially in contact with said ears. I

5. In combination, in a folding .frame, a bracket having an attachingportion and a pair of ears equally diverging from said attachingportion, frame members pivotally mounted to swing relatively to therespective ears and in planes substantiallyparallel thereto, and spacingmeans interposed be- 1 pin secured in openings in saidears, a pair offrame members pivotallysupported on "said pin, and a spacing sleevemountedupon said pin between said frame members.

7. A folding frame compris ng a tubular supporting bar, a bracket fixedQad acent each extremity thereof, said bracketseach comprising a pair ofdivergently arranged ears, a tubular leg p votally secured to eachofsaid ears to swing in the respective planes thereof, folding bracesfor each leg havmg one of their extremities. secured to their respectivelegs and having. their opposite extremit'ies pivotally and permanentlyconnected to said bar, and a folding brace connecting the legs of eachpair.

8. In a foldingframe of the class described, a supporting bar. providedwith "hammock attaching hooks, pairs of legs pivotally and permanentlysecured to said bar,

the respective legs of a pair being divergently arranged, andself-locking means for maintainingsaid legs in normal relation to saidbar, the pivotal connection of said legs to the bar being constructedand arranged to permit said legs to be swung into planes substantiallyparallel to said bar upon proper manipulation of said locking means.

9. In a folding frame, in combination a bracket member having a centralattaching portion and a pair of ears diverging therefrom, a fixed pivotpin arranged substantially parallel to said central portion and engagingopenings in the respective ears, a

pair of tubular leg members having their ends flattened and pivotallysupported upon said pin and a spacer sleeve mounted upon said pinbetween the flattened ears of said leg members, said sleeve having itsends beveled to provide contact elements parallel to those of theadjacent ears.

Signed by me at Boston Massachusetts, this fourteenth day of May 1920.

HARRY MINTZ.

